AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this Snowing story! See previous chapter for important authors notes on characters and story notes.
Just a couple of notes for the last chapter and the next few. The Characters of Aaron Glover, the podcaster and Paul and Helen Santino are from Manifest and not Once characters. Another note: In this universe, Killian and Liam are not related, nor do they know one another.
Special Note: By now, those who watch Manifest, will have seen the season 3 finale. I won't say anything else in case someone hasn't seen it, but I can assure you that there will be certain changes. No decisions yet, as I'm kind of waiting to see what happens in season 4, if we get one. But yeah, I'm already gaming out how to get around a certain major character death. Just FYI.
Another Special Note: By now, most of you know that NBC made the horrible decision to cancel Manifest, despite ending season 3 on a terrible cliffhanger. The series creator says he is committed to giving the series some kind of conclusion, even if it just means a wrap up movie or something. No word yet on if anything is happening. However, if it doesn't, I will finish this story and give it some kind of conclusion. Just FYI.
This one will update bi-weekly on Monday nights. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yeah, it's a little weird, I agree. Glad you're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks!
Number Ten: Yep, Henry has disappeared. Yep, Liam lost it completely and went off the deep end. It is horrible to think about. It's probably the government, but even a bit deeper than that, most likely. Yep, we know Emma, she'll find him. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: Yeah, David is lucky he has a supportive family or he may have ended up like Liam.
Sexystarwarslover: Lol, yep a cliffhanger. Yep, I really hope they save the series. I don't know what to do with that ending. Don't worry, I won't be killing Margaret. I'll figure something out. Yeah, Liam is slowly going off the deep end. Yeah, fortunately David is not spiraling like the Captain. Uh oh, Henry is missing. Sorry for the short reply, but I'm short on time tonight. :)
AnonSnowing: Yep, no magic, but a bit supernatural here so it's hard to say what happened. I don't think it's Glinda either. Yeah, David can figure it out. I know, Aurora is in a bad spot. Yeah, I doubt Roger's death was an accident. Yep, Captain Jones has definitely gone off the deep end. Yeah, David has Margaret and his family to keep him grounded. I love that Snowing loving too. Yep, Henry is missing. Glad you're enjoying it! :
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 36: Vanishing Point, Pt 1
"Where is Henry?!" Emma demanded to know, as Aurora came to her apartment, having been called by her in a ruse to lure her out.
"What are you talking about?" Aurora asked, as she gasped when Emma backed her up against the wall.
"Stop playing dumb...I know you're the mole!" she shouted.
"I...I don't have Henry!" she insisted, but Emma turned her around and cuffed her. She spotted her nephew's sketchbook on her coffee table and grabbed it, before leading her out to the car.
From the moment Margaret's scream had awakened him in the dead of night, his heart had been pounding and his mind had been running through a million different scenarios. In their adrenaline fueled panic, they had immediately called the Police, which he was realizing now might have been a mistake in these circumstances.
"We need your most recent picture," one of the uniformed, female officers said. Margaret's hands shook, as she found one on her phone and the officer used it to send it to her own phone.
"I need to ask you a few questions," she said. They nodded.
"How is his home life here?" she asked.
"Good…" David said.
"Very good...I just got him and my husband back. We've been overjoyed," Margaret agreed.
"Is there anyone you can think of that might not be happy about your return?" she asked. David shrugged.
"There are a lot of people that don't like us, because of the plane, but no one we know personally," David said.
"Except maybe my father and new step-mother, but this isn't their style, though they'd love to use Henry to hurt us," Margaret said, as then recalled something else.
"She's talking about the article in the New York Times," Margaret realized and his brow furrowed.
"He is the other man...so to speak," the officer mentioned.
"No...he's not. There was never anything between Lance and I. And he was close to Olive...he doesn't even know Henry," she said, sighing.
"He may feel disappointed, but he would never take our son," Margaret replied. The officer nodded in acceptance.
"And there are no marital problems between the two of you? Kids pick up on that stuff," she said.
"None...and if you are stupidly implying that my husband might be involved with this, then let me assure you that he has been with me all night...in our bed," Margaret spat in annoyance. The woman opened her mouth to continue her questioning, but Emma arrived and stepped in.
"I'll take it from here, Officer," Emma said, as she sat down beside her sister-in-law.
"I can't believe she would even ask if you had anything to do with it…" Margaret hissed.
"Easy MM...it's just routine stuff," Emma admonished.
"Well, it's stupid!" she said, before bursting into tears. David took her in his arms and rocked her gently.
"Shh...we're going to find him, my love," he promised, as he looked at his sister. She motioned the two of them upstairs to Henry's room.
"I know that look...what are you thinking?" Emma asked.
"What if...the Major has eyes on all of this?" he asked.
"Aurora...she's the mole. That has to be it," Emma replied.
"Calling the cops was a mistake then. She'll be able to find him before us just by following the police," David said.
"What do we do?" Margaret asked. Emma sighed and took out her phone.
"Give me a second...I think I can get them to call off the search," Emma replied, as she went outside.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Margaret asked. He nodded and kissed her forehead.
"We'll find him...I think this is the only way to find him before the Major does," he said, as he flipped through Henry's sketchbook.
"I think so…" David said, as he showed her a page in his sketchbook. It was a drawing of them, just as they were now, with Henry's sketchbook in hand. Margaret allowed herself a small smile of wonder at their son.
"So if the Major didn't take him...then who did?" she wondered.
"I don't know...maybe no one," David said, as he leafed through the drawings.
"David! Margaret!" they heard someone calling them and recognized it as Killian. They hurried downstairs.
"I found Henry...he's with his grandfather," Killian called. Margaret played along and sighed in relief.
"Looks like this was all just a misunderstanding," he said, as he showed the lead cop a recent photo on his phone of Henry and Robert.
"We'll be having a very long talk about him running off like this," David said, as he put his hands on Margaret's shoulders. The cop looked at all of them and bought it.
"Okay people...let's wrap up. False alarm," she called, as the cops were soon gone.
"Thank you," David said.
"No big deal...just my job at stake. But you better tell me why I just lied to the entire squad," Killian replied.
"It's connected with what happened in Red Hook," David explained, referring to the explosion.
"While we were there rescuing the passengers, there was a Major that landed at that time, just before everything went haywire. We don't know who she is, but she's military and she's very high up. She's responsible for funding the experiments on the passengers," David said.
"She was looking for certain responses...and it's Henry she's after. He gets them...differently from others," Emma continued.
"Henry knows things sometimes...before they happen," Margaret said.
"And if Henry's drawings are anything to go by, which they usually are, I think he's following a Calling," David said, as he put the book down in front of them.
"And you want to find him before this mysterious Major does," Killian garnered. David nodded.
"Wait...this place. I've seen this...it's a town upstate," Margaret said, referring to the drawing of what looked like a small town square.
"A couple years ago...there was a teacher's retreat that I attended in this small town. It's called Tannersville," she explained.
"Henry is leaving us a map...I'm sure of it. Let's check it out," David said, as they got their coats.
"You guys need a vehicle that they don't know," Emma said and he realized she was right.
"Mr. Gold...do you think he can help?" Margaret asked.
"He's been helping us all these years...he'll definitely want in, I'm sure," David replied, as he called him.
"Meanwhile, I'll take Aurora to the station and we can interrogate her. She's definitely working for the Major," Emma told Killian, as she noticed something about the book.
"What is it?" Killian asked.
"A page has been torn out," Emma said.
"Sometimes he tears out pages," Olive replied.
"Yeah maybe...or Aurora took it. Either way, I'm going to make her tell me," Emma replied, as David returned.
"Gold is sending Jefferson to rent us an SUV for the trip upstate. We're meeting him on the outskirts of the city to switch vehicles. We'll take this one and he'll drive ours back here. That should keep them off our tail, at least for a while," David said.
"Maybe...but you two be careful. These people are highly trained agents and military that are probably working for her," Emma warned.
"We will be...no one is stopping us from getting to our son first," Margaret said.
"Can I come?" Olive asked.
"We need you here...grandpa is on his way," David replied. Olive looked disappointed.
"I know you want to come...but we need a point of contact here at home and there's no one better," he assured. She nodded, as he kissed her forehead. Margaret hugged her next, as they got their coats and hurried out. Emma and Killian were not far behind and took Aurora to the station for questioning.
Agent Greg Mendell entered the situation room and spied his boss in the center, observing all the screens of various Intel before her.
"They have called off the search," he informed. The woman smirked.
"They told the police that the boy is with his grandfather," he added.
"A clever lie...they're trying to find him first," the Major said, as she turned to him.
"Major Black...the Nolan family vehicle was headed out of town, but now it's on its way back into the city toward the Nolan house," one of her analysts informed her.
"Oh very clever...Mr. and Mrs. Nolan," she said.
"You think they're not in that vehicle?" Greg asked.
"Of course they're not...get me any camera footage of the point where their vehicle last stopped," she ordered. Grainy images came up of a gas station on the way out of town, showing them getting into a new vehicle. She smirked.
"They're going upstate. Get several agents following them now," she ordered. He nodded and left to carry out her orders.
"Where's the missing page?" Emma asked, as she sat down across from Aurora in the interrogation room.
"What are you talking about?" Aurora asked.
"There is a page ripped out of my nephew's sketchbook and I know you took it. I want to know why and what's on that page?" Emma asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Aurora refuted.
"Henry is missing and I know you're working for the Major…" Emma said.
"If you know that...then you know my life is over if I talk. She'll destroy me...you can't protect me," Aurora replied.
"I can if you're straight with me," Emma promised, but the other woman scoffed.
"I'm sorry...even if I knew where he was, I could never tell you!" Aurora insisted.
"Why?" Emma questioned.
"Because it's not just my life that's in danger!" Aurora cried. Emma came to a realization then.
"Then it's someone you care about…" Emma said, as she left to do some digging. They would be forced to cut Aurora loose soon so she had to be fast.
"Major…" Greg said, as he entered the room.
"It would appear that Aurora Rose is in Police custody. She was arrested by Emma Nolan," he informed her. She smirked again.
"These Nolans are quite relentless…" she mused.
"Don't worry...I'll make some calls and have her released," she said, as she took her phone out of her pocket.
Emma entered the interrogation room again and dropped a file onto the table.
"You have a son," she said and Aurora looked at her in surprise.
"The Major is holding your son over you, isn't she?" Emma asked. Aurora was silent, but her face answered the question.
"You traded a child for a child," she realized, noticing the uncomfortable look on the other woman's face, just as Killian came in. He motioned to her and she went outside the room with him.
"We just got a call...the Captain has been ordered to release Ms. Rose immediately," he said.
"By who?" she asked. He gave her a look.
"He didn't say, Emma...but it was an order he said he can't refuse," Killian replied.
"Dammit…" Emma cursed.
"We can stall for about an hour, but that's it," Killian said. Emma sighed and nodded, before going back in to take a final shot at her.
David and Margaret arrived in the small town upstate and David found a parking spot along the Main drag, before they got out.
"How in the world did he get up here all by himself?" she wondered, as he took her hand.
"Henry is resourceful...he knows how to get on a bus," David said, as he motioned to the bus stop, as they walked by it. She sighed.
"Hey...we'll find him. A little boy by himself should have attracted some attention. Let's show his picture around," he said.
"Good idea," she said, as they milled about the square, using their phones to show people a picture of their son. But no one seemed to have noticed their boy.
Margaret felt the fear creep in on her, as they returned to the truck that Jefferson had rented for them.
"Hey...we'll find him," David promised.
"How?" she choked out.
"How does no one notice a little boy all by himself?" she wondered, as he hugged her tightly.
"If Henry is on some kind of mission with a Calling, he may have managed to escape anyone's notice on purpose," he reasoned. Margaret nodded and then noticed two men across the street over David's shoulder.
"David…" she uttered, as he turned halfway and spotted the two men watching them
"Do you think…" she said, trailing off. He nodded. The Major was having them followed. Just at that moment, they got a text from Olive.
Olive milled about at home, worrying and feeling useless.
"Grilled cheese?" Robert offered. She smiled.
"Thanks Gramps...but I'm not too hungry," she said, idly taking a bite.
"But I guess I can always eat grilled cheese," she said, smiling.
"All my kids and grandkids love grilled cheese," he mused fondly. Olive remembered when she and Henry were little and still the same age. Grandpa would come to babysit and make them grilled cheese, while they would giggle and draw in his sketchbook together. That's when her eyes widened and she set the plate down.
"Oh my Gosh…" she uttered.
"What is it, peanut?" Robert asked.
"Henry and I used to leave notes for each other when we were little...maybe he left me one!" she cried, before running upstairs to his room. Robert followed her and watched her feel under the drawer of the desk. He was amazed to see her pull out a piece of paper from Henry's sketchbook. Olive opened it and read what was on the page.
"I left," she said, as she noticed the odd line drawing below the words.
"Why would he just say he left without anything else?" Robert asked. Olive shook her head.
"I don't know, but I need to get this to Mom and Dad. With Henry, this probably means more than we know," Olive said, as she texted it to her father.
Emma burst into the interrogation room again to take a final shot at Aurora before they had to release her. Despite them being at odds, Killian had come through again and got her information from a sealed file that had to do with Aurora's situation.
"I think I know why you're spying on us for the Major…" Emma said, as she put a photo of a woman on the table.
"This woman...Clarissa Ford is the foster Mom to your son and legal guardian since shortly after the plane disappeared. But the Major has promised to get him back for you if you work for her. Am I warm?" Emma asked. Aurora looked at her and tears filled her eyes.
"I had no choice...this is the only way to get my little Phillip back," Aurora replied.
"But I assure you that I didn't give that page I tore out of the sketchbook to the Major," she insisted.
"Then where is it?" Emma asked. Aurora was silent.
"Prove you're not feeding her information right now…" Emma demanded.
"I can't! I'll never see my son again if I help you!" Aurora cried.
"Do you really think the Major is going to keep up her end of the bargain?" Emma asked, as she sat down in front of her.
"Because you know that I will. I have Clarissa Ford's location and I will give it to you if you help me," Emma promised.
"And I think you know I'm more apt to keep up my end of a deal than the Major," she added. Aurora was silent, considering the offer.
"What do we do?" Margaret asked, as she huddled close to her husband.
"Well...he's not here in this town and we need to find out which direction to go next," David replied, as a text came through. He smiled.
"Thank you Olive…" he said, as he showed her.
"Henry left her a note...I left?" Margaret asked.
"Yeah...not too helpful, but at least we know that the Major doesn't have him," he replied, as they got into the truck.
"Let's keep going North. This could have just been a hub. He may have gone on from here," David said, as they quickly left the small town and were on the highway again.
"Babe…I think we're being followed," Margaret said, as she noticed the black SUV in the rear view mirror. He glanced at his mirror and saw what she saw.
"Hang on," he said, as he shifted down into the off-road setting on the truck and took to the woods. The vehicle followed, but had more trouble with the rougher terrain than them. Somehow, Gold had seen the foresight to know they might need off road capabilities. They were falling behind and David continued down the side road into the woods, determined to lose them.
In a cabin in the woods, Henry huddled in his coat, trying to keep warm. He opened his back pack and drank a little water and ate part of a granola bar. He unpacked the rest of the things he brought that he knew would be needed and then sat back and waited, while trying to keep warm.
Aurora exited the Police station, after finally being cut loose and took out the crumpled drawing from her back pocket. She dialed a number and waited for her contact to answer.
"I know where the boy is," she said, before listening on the other end. She nodded.
"I tore out a page in his book. It's a cabin in the woods…" she said.